What may have been behind Everson Pereiras surprising Yankees demotion

TAMPA — A top prospect who had been seen as a possibility to break camp with the Yankees given the uncertainty of Giancarlo Stanton has been slightly pushed to the background again.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees from spring training Following a 9-1 loss to the Pirates on Tuesday at LECOM Park, the Yankees surprisingly optioned Everson Pereira to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The early decision — two weeks before Opening Day — also further raises eyebrows. Outside of his power at the plate, Pereira was held at high value as a right-handed hitter on a team heavy with left-handers, especially in the DH pool of candidates.It was viewed as a significant factor in Pereira possibly breaking camp with the team. He was also on track to start playing in the outfield after undergoing Tommy John surgery on June 4 last season, but it’s possible the lack of defensive reps turned the Yankees’ head a different way. Prior to the decision, Pereira said he tries not to think about the Stanton opening, but “feels ready” for the next step. “I just try to do my job.

I don’t want to expect something big, I just want to get healthy, get strong, and help my team,” Pereira told The Post on Tuesday. In 2023, Pereira was called up to the majors for the first time and appeared in 27 games, but struggled to adjust to big league pitching, going 14-for-93 with 40 strikeouts. However, Yankees hitting coach James Rowson had noticed improvement in the 23-year-old this spring. “I like him.This spring, it looks like he’s really square and the baseball is up in terms of that,” Rowson said Tuesday.

“I look at the spin a lot of times, and the ball is spinning in a really good way right now.He doesn’t have a lot of topspin or sidespin.

He has a lot of backspin off the balls he is hitting.He’s got power.

I mean, we know that.He can drive a baseball...